CLERMONT, Fla. – Torrential downpours and strong thunderstorms washed away the Keene State College softball team's pair of games on Monday at the Hancock Park Ballfields.

Delayed by over an hour initially as teams all over the state struggled to get games in, the Owls (2-0) got a little more than an inning and a half in against 14th-ranked Simpson College (9-0) before lightning forced the teams off the field in the bottom of the second in a 1-1 tie.  Shortly thereafter came a torrential downpour as a line of thunderstorms moved from southwest to northeast across the entire Florida peninsula, making the field unplayable and causing the postponement.

KSC was looking to build on a 2-0 start Sunday against a nationally-ranked team, and scored in the top of the first when Kalle Halvorsen recorded her seventh hit in eight at bats, moving up two bases on an error before scoring on Elyse Picard's sacrifice fly.  The Storm answered with a run of their own in the bottom half when Ashlyn Steen singled to left, stole second, and then scored when Megan Heidelbauer flew to center but KSC threw the ball away.  Jayme Kiley singled with two down in the second, but Emma LaFave otherwise struck out the side.  Brielyn Ginnaty then walked on a 3-2 pitch to begin the bottom of the second, and that was all the softball that could be played on the Owls' second day in Florida filled with ominous skies.

Keene State was also slated to take on Clarkson University at 3:45 p.m, but that game was also postponed.

The Owls get back in action tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17) when they take on Macalester College at 1:30 p.m. and Worcester State University at 3:45 p.m. at the Legends Way Ballfields.  Stay tuned to keeneowls.com and Keene State Owls social media pages for any further updates on the schedule.  KSC is slated to have a day off on Wednesday before closing out the trip Thursday and Friday.